Connacht derby between Galway and Sligo ends in stalemate 

Galway United's David Hurley with Niall Morahan of Sligo Rovers. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Galway United 0 Sligo Rovers 0 

A perhaps predictable but nonetheless passionate Connacht Derby ended in a second stalemate between the sides this season.

Eamonn Deacy Park glistened in the sun and the visitors made the most of the favourable conditions. They passed crisply and had a brace of chances in the first four minutes to go ahead.

Firstly, Max Mata pulled a sharp save from Brendan Clark. In the same attack, Stefan Radosavljevic was even closer. Ellis Chapman got to the byline and pulled back to the Faroese international who flashed wide.

United eventually got to the pitch of the battle. Their first half flowed through Patrick Hickey. The American was dominant in the air and went close twice. Killian Brouder too was only denied by JR Wilson goal-line clearance.

Sligo bit back and had the ball in the net after 30 minutes. Max Mata latched on to a loose ball and hit the roof of the net. The linesman’s offside flag rescued the home team.

There was another tight decision for the officials after the turnaround when a United penalty shout was waved away after Ed McGinty collided with Hickey.

Stephen Walsh failed to convert the rebound, and he was close tool after a breakneck breakaway from himself and Maurice Nugent. The striker’s volley flashing just over.

Otherwise, Sligo shaded some of the second and provided a few scares from set-pieces, Conor Malley flashing a header just wide an increasingly intense encounter. Substitutes Owen Elding and Wilson Waweru were dangerous when introduced.

Yet, United continued to enjoy the best chances and Maurice Nugent nearly scored his second in a week but his header bounced back off the bar.

They introduced Francely Lomboto and Wassim Aouachria late on to try to salvage the win. However, it was their former striker who nearly stole the show. Wilson Waweru’s 96th minute effort trickling just wide to deny a famous homecoming.

Galway United: Clarke; Esua, Slevin, Brouder, Kazeem (Aouachria 86); Dervin (Gaxha 56), Hickey (Nugent 56), McCormack, Hurley. McCarthy (O’ Keeffe 78); Walsh (Lomboto 78) 

Sligo Rovers: McGinty; Wilson, Wiggett, Denham, Hutchinson; Hartmann (Smit 73), Malley, Morahan, Chapman, Radosavlejic (Elding 60); Mata (Waweru 64) 

Referee: D MacGraith